Gallo's homer in 10th gives Hickory 6-5 win over Tourists

Published: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 10:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 10:12 p.m.

ASHEVILLE — On a night the Asheville Tourists honored former longtime manager Joe Mikulik, they ended up falling 6-5 to rival Hickory in 10 innings, thanks to the clutch hitting of Joey Gallo.

Gallo hit the game-winning solo homer in the top of the 10th off Asheville's Patrick Johnson, who hails from Conover, which is just minutes away from Hickory. Gallo also had a towering shot in the first inning over the 42-foot right-field wall.

It was the Tourists' fifth-straight loss, and it was the Crawdads' third straight win.

Asheville held a 5-4 lead going into the ninth, but Hickory's Jordan Akins kept the game going with a screaming home run to left field off Tourist closer Raul Fernandez on an 0-2 pitch.

In the top of the eighth, Hickory had a chance to tie the game but left the tying run 90 feet away at third. Ryan Rua had reached third after tagging up on Alfaro's long fly to center, but he didn't get to touch home after Mazara grounded to second for the final out of the inning.

Earlier in the inning, Rua's RBI double cut the Asheville lead to 5-4.

Gallo went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Rua was 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI.

Following Gallo's solo shot in the top of the first, Asheville answered in the bottom half of the inning with a groundout RBI by Francisco Sosa.

After scoreless second and third innings, both teams put up two runs apiece in the fourth. Jorge Alfaro provided both Crawdad runs with a two-run double, and the Tourists' runs came courtesy of an RBI groundout by Julian Yan and then a throwing error that allowed Sosa to score from third.

Prior to the game, the Tourists honored Mikulik in a pre-game ceremony as they presented him with his 2012 South Atlantic League Championship ring. Mikulik managed the Tourists for 13 years and guided them to the SAL title last year. The SAL Hall of Famer ended up getting released by Colorado Rockies organization following last year and is now a roving outfield instructor for the Texas Rangers.

Asheville now begins a four-game road trip to Rome, Ga., and returns to McCormick Field on Tuesday to host Lexington for three games and then Lexington for four.

<p>ASHEVILLE — On a night the Asheville Tourists honored former longtime manager Joe Mikulik, they ended up falling 6-5 to rival Hickory in 10 innings, thanks to the clutch hitting of Joey Gallo.</p><p>Gallo hit the game-winning solo homer in the top of the 10th off Asheville's Patrick Johnson, who hails from Conover, which is just minutes away from Hickory. Gallo also had a towering shot in the first inning over the 42-foot right-field wall.</p><p>It was the Tourists' fifth-straight loss, and it was the Crawdads' third straight win.</p><p>Asheville held a 5-4 lead going into the ninth, but Hickory's Jordan Akins kept the game going with a screaming home run to left field off Tourist closer Raul Fernandez on an 0-2 pitch.</p><p>In the top of the eighth, Hickory had a chance to tie the game but left the tying run 90 feet away at third. Ryan Rua had reached third after tagging up on Alfaro's long fly to center, but he didn't get to touch home after Mazara grounded to second for the final out of the inning. </p><p>Earlier in the inning, Rua's RBI double cut the Asheville lead to 5-4.</p><p>Gallo went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Rua was 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI.</p><p>Following Gallo's solo shot in the top of the first, Asheville answered in the bottom half of the inning with a groundout RBI by Francisco Sosa.</p><p>After scoreless second and third innings, both teams put up two runs apiece in the fourth. Jorge Alfaro provided both Crawdad runs with a two-run double, and the Tourists' runs came courtesy of an RBI groundout by Julian Yan and then a throwing error that allowed Sosa to score from third.</p><p>Prior to the game, the Tourists honored Mikulik in a pre-game ceremony as they presented him with his 2012 South Atlantic League Championship ring. Mikulik managed the Tourists for 13 years and guided them to the SAL title last year. The SAL Hall of Famer ended up getting released by Colorado Rockies organization following last year and is now a roving outfield instructor for the Texas Rangers.</p><p>Asheville now begins a four-game road trip to Rome, Ga., and returns to McCormick Field on Tuesday to host Lexington for three games and then Lexington for four.</p>